Magnificent Sevens

Racing's top winners, side by side

WITH A VICTORY in the Sprint Cup season finale on Nov. 20 in Homestead, Fla., Jimmie Johnson wrapped up his seventh title in NASCAR's top division. The 41-year-old Johnson joins Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty as the only seven-timers. Here's how the three stack up.

TALE OF THE TAPE

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]

BASIC INFO	RICHARD PETTY #43 1958 to '92; 1,184 races, 200 wins	DALE EARNHARDT #3 1975 to 2001; 676 races, 76 wins	JIMMIE JOHNSON #48 2001 to ...; 543 races, 80 wins
DRIVING GENES	Hall of Fame dad was named one of NASCAR's 50 best, in '98.	Hall of Fame dad was named one of NASCAR's 50 best, in '98.	Mom drove a school bus.
HOMETOWN	Tiny central North Carolina town of Randelman.	Tiny central North Carolina town of Kannapolis.	Suburban San Diego town of El Cajon.
FACIAL HAIR	Fu Manchu to handlebars to Groucho-esque configuration.	Wore a soup-strainer. Shaved once, causing a slump.	Ranges from clean-shaven to stubble to full-on beard.
AFTER SEVEN?	Won his seventh at 41. Drove 13 more years, but he never finished higher than fourth.	Won his last title at 43. Finished second at 49, the year before his death in 2001.	At 41, he's averaged 5.0 wins over the last five years, so don't bet against eight.